British Police TV Drama

In this famous clip from an episode of 'The Bill', a popular British TV drama circulating around Britain, on ITV, we see different codes and conventions to what an audience would imagine a British police drama to be like. The audience is given an insight into relationships between members of the police force, either personal relationships or work conflicts, which enables the viewer to be engaged into a drama not just dealing with crime, but also conflicts that may go into issues that are often seen in the police work enivornment, but may often not be heard of the media consumers.

In this clip that I have chosen from youtube, the viewer sees a row taking place between two senior officers of the police team, about homosexuality, in which the woman involved overhears the conversation and taunts her ex boyfriend with sly remarks. Some people in Britain may argue that members of the police force are prejudice and cannot be trusted. This clip supports those views, with one member of the police team being accused of being stereotypical, although this does not apply in all cases of workteams within the police force. O'Sullivan et al (1994) suggests that stereotypes change over time. For example, 'working class-ness' which has shifted from the 'cloth-cap worker' of the 1950s to the 1980s. So, with views in society becoming more and more open to things such as homosexual relationships and families, the police force will find it very difficult to give off impressions of prejudice, or use unfair judgement over either criminals, or other members of their workforce.

The two shot involving 'Smithy' and 'Luke', intensifies the tension that they are both feeling whilst the argument is evolving. With Smithy being inevitably taller than Luke, forcing power over him, and making Luke look smaller, and more threatened by Smithy's behaviour. Thus, Luke being the victim of unfair prejudice from Smithy. A close up of Luke's face gives the impression that he is feeling upset or angry by the remarks made by his workmate. He is then taunted by his ex-girlfriend about their sex life, which creates more tension for Luke.

This clip supports the traditional views that police are often cocky, and feel that they are superior, often bullying others. Two members of the police have ganged up on another member, who turns out to be homosexual and decide to bully him, although Luke does not seem sadenned by their remarks. Instead, he also appears to be cocky, and the drama will inevitabely carry on.